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Wonderful magazine shoot in this dreamy coastal location. We were keeping everything crossed for good weather and, thanks to our superb Indian summer, the sun shone and the stunning beachside home with its far-reaching views out to the Isle of Wight, looked even more incredible.

On my way home I popped into the Billy’s on the Beach – a bustling café at Bracklesham Bay – for a quick bite to eat. Great food and spectacular views. If you haven’t already visited then I’d definitely recommend it.

The feature is scheduled for a summer issue in 2015. Keep you posted when it’s published.

Lovely feedback from textile designer Jenny Frean, whose delightful cottage is featured over eight pages in this month’s (October 2014) Country Homes & Interiors.

Jenny and Patrick looked at a staggering 93 properties before eventually stumbling across a house in a superb location, nestling at the foot of the South Downs.

The couple have lovingly renovated the property to create their rural idyll, complete with a purpose-built studio that’s now home to their thriving textile design company First Eleven Studio.

The Frean’s cottage is bursting at the seams with colour and interest, from daughter Holly’s artwork to Jenny’s designs, including her striking Sussex Downs wallpaper and fabric which have been made into curtains, cushions and even an ottoman for their cosy living room. For more details about the range, adapted from one of Jenny’s line drawings of the nearby countryside, you can view the Sanderson website.

 Photographs courtesy of Richard Gadsby

Fantastic to see artist Helen Pettigrew, her cosy studio and delightful cottage featured in a six-page spread in this month’s (September 2014) Your Home magazine.

When this bubbly homeowner’s email, entitled, ‘The house that changed my life’, popped up on my screen, I was intrigued.

It was wonderful to meet Helen face-to-face and chat to this talented, relaxed artist about how she’s transformed the property in Mortlake, South London, into a fun-filled family home where she now lives and works.

Helen says: “When we moved to our house in 2006, I couldn’t wait to draw the property for our change of address cards. It was this simple expression of showing friends our new home that ignited my current business of house and pet portrait commissions.”

To find out more about Helen’s story, grab a copy of Your Home and click here to pop over to her website.

Thanks for all the lovely feedback about Martin and Celia Young’s garden makeover feature in this month’s (September) Real Homes magazine.

It was such a pleasure to spend time with this fun couple and hear how their amazing garden transformation led to Martin starting his thriving garden furniture company Sitting Spiritually.

After photographer colleague John Lawrence had taken his gorgeous shots and I’d finished my interview, we all relaxed in their tranquil garden, close to Lyme Regis in Dorset, and, somehow, managed to polish off the cream tea props!

Turn to pages 100-103 of Real Homes to find out how the genial Martin turned an empty plot into a sensational garden that’s become the ideal spot for showcasing Sitting Spiritually’s superb range of swing seats.

This shoot took a little rearranging in all of our diaries but I’m so glad we hung in patiently for a blue-sky day. The perfect weather was worth the wait.

If you have ‘before’ shots of your garden and would like to see your own makeover featured in a magazine then email me at mail@janetmcmeekin.co.uk or call 01243 792379.

Just discovered the delights of the new independent Project Gallery, en route back from a visit to a stunning home on the outskirts of Arundel.

Since the vibrant contemporary gallery opened in June, it’s been causing a huge stir in this bustling town that’s simply bursting at the seams with fascinating creative people such as talented gallery owners, Matt Bodimeade and his wife Mickey – a truly inspiring couple.

The Project Gallery (located in High Street, opposite Arundel Castle and on the left side as you’re going up the hill!), is  exhibiting an exciting eclectic range of contemporary paintings, drawings, original prints, ceramics and sculpture by established and emerging national and international artists.

If you happen to be visiting Arundel, (one of my favourite places in West Sussex) don’t forget to pop in and say hi to either the lovely Mickey or Matt who, incidentally, sells his own work through various galleries, including the town’s Zimmer Stewart Gallery and his website www.mattbodimeade.co.uk

The gallery is open from Tuesday to Saturday 10.00am-5.00pm, or you can call 01903 884753 to arrange a visit outside of these times.

When I’m not out visiting, or writing about fab homes, if time allows, I’ll hop on my road bike and cycle around gorgeous West Sussex – often accompanied by these delightful ladies – the Biking Belles.

Although I’m pretty new to road biking, I absolutely love it. It’s not just a great way to keep fit, but also very sociable, really exhilarating and just brilliant fun.

On Sunday, August 31, the Biking Belles will be holding a brand new women-only charity cycling event at the famous Goodwood Motor Circuit in West Sussex, in aid of Boot Out Breast Cancer.

The event will start at 8am with three sportives. Each rider will complete one lap of the Goodwood circuit (2.38 miles) and then leave to cycle their chosen route of, either 35, 50 or 70 miles, through the Sussex countryside.

Entries are available through the British Cycling website at a cost of £15 – £20 depending on your route, or on the day at a cost of £20 – £25.

There’ll be food and water stops en route, plus goodie bags at the finish.

Following the departure of the sportives, the circuit opens up at about 10am – 1pm to the public (women over 18yrs only) to cycle around at their leisure. The entry fee for this will be £10 per person.

After lunch, the Elite national women’s racing begins with The Lady March Grand Prix Race.

Even though it’s a women’s cycling event, all the family are welcome. Refreshments will be available and there will be lots of stalls with plenty of cycling-orientated items to purchase.

Entries will be taken on the day but bookings are now open on the British Cycling website. Here’s the direct link: www.britishcycling.org.uk/events/details/104740/Biking-Belles-Sportives-at-Goodwood-Motorcircuit

For further details, please contact Val Harper at val@bikingbelles.co.uk. Val’s mobile is 07824 605317.

Find out more about the Biking Belles by visiting their website www.bikingbelles.co.uk. You can check out their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BikingBellesGrandPrix and find them on Twitter @BikingBelles

Photograph taken by Louise Adams, courtesy of the Chichester Observer

What a great start to the week! So delighted to discover this stunning home, owned by gifted artist Robert Olliver-Jones and his husband Andrew, starring on the front cover of the latest (September) issue of 25 Beautiful Homes.

Robert has just called to let me know how pleased he is with the coverage which has made my day!

I really enjoyed spending time with Robert during a fun shoot at the couple’s lovingly converted stables that now simply ooze style and creativity. Colleague Richard Gadsby agreed that it was not just a treasure trove of a home, bursting with personality, but also a sheer delight to photograph.

During our interview, Robert mentioned that one of his favourite shops is Rockett St George for its ‘eclectic and often humorous range of homewares and gifts.’ I am definitely with him on that score – I’m a huge fan too.

I’m very grateful to both portrait artist Kate Tugwell and her husband Chester, who runs Chichester-based Blue Pecan Computer Training, for contacting me about Robert’s home. You were right…it was crying out to be featured, particularly after all the care and effort that’s so clearly gone into making it a very special place to live.

You can read all about this success story in 25 Beautiful Homes. To find out more about Robert’s work, view his website www.robertolliverjones.co.uk or call him on 07752 711 197.

Managed to combine a little work with a lot of sightseeing in London yesterday. It was a day that turned into a fabulous magical mystery tour, complete with a trip to The Shard (now, there’s a room with a view!), a stroll around the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park – the capital’s newest playground – and various other impromptu stops.

At the end of January this year, I took up road cycling so, for me, one of the highlights of the day was popping into the Lee Valley VeloPark which, two years after the Olympics, is still very much alive and kicking.

Lots of London-based homes are bubbling at the moment. Many thanks to the all the owners for sending me their snaps. I’ll keep you posted about progress and look forward to visiting your homes soon.

For more information about having your house featured in a magazine, email mail@janetmcmeekin.co.uk or call me on 01243 792379.

Fantastic shoot in sunny Cambridge yesterday. Such a wonderful welcome from all eight members of the Collins family – what a team. I’m looking forward to writing the feature about their amazing house transformation. Having spent three years crammed into a very modest property, they are now thoroughly enjoying their spacious new home. Another excellent project and plenty to write about. 🙂

Writing about this gorgeous home, nestling at the foot of the South Downs, today. Hats off to the homeowners, the Martin Sewell Building Company and to Helyer Davies Architects for such a stunning transformation. It’s a very impressive renovation project that maximises the spectacular views.

The owners are, understandably, taking their time to ensure they get the interior of this beautiful home just right. Lots of TLC is being lavished on this delightful Victorian cottage and I can’t wait to revisit it when all the finishing touches are eventually in place.  🙂

Photographs courtesy of Helyer Davies Architects